Websites for Bay State ski slopes to a portable power strip

Get info on 12 local ski areas through a website and online planner launched by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. The site provides locations, short descriptions, cool tips, ski conditions, and social media updates for a dozen areas: Berkshire East, Blandford, Blue Hills, Bousquet, Bradford, Catamount, Jiminy Peak, Nashoba Valley, Otis Ridge, Ski Butternut, Ski Ward, and Wachusett. It also lists notable sites nearby that may appeal to nonskiers, from museums to restaurants. http://massvacation.com/skilocal

ESCAPE TO THE CAPE THIS FEBRUARY

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Spend the school break on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay. The Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster (above and below) hosts special activities Feb. 15-23 with indoor pool programs, a pizza party, and
Ping-Pong for kids, and cooking demonstrations, wine and chocolate tastings, and daily fitness classes for parents. The resort also features family movie and karaoke nights, and a Project Runway program during which children can design and showcase their own fashions. Stay in the Britterage Villas, which have living rooms and kitchenettes, or the newly renovated Mansion Wing guest rooms, which offer hotel-style service. One-room villas from $129 per night; guest rooms from $195. Mention “February Vacay” when booking. 800-343-6074, www.oceanedge.com

EUROPEAN CRUISES ENCOURAGE CULTURAL IMMERSION

Crystal Cruises has shortened its Northern European voyages and boosted the number of overnights it offers to give travelers more time for land-based exploration and for learning about local cultures. Starting June 8, the company will offer three new seven-day itineraries and five new 10-day sailings in Scandinavia, the British Isles, and the Baltic region, down from the traditional 11- and 12-day sailings. It will also provide off-ship accommodations at the beginning and end of each trip, and even mid-cruise port stays. Hop aboard the new seven-day cruises out of Dublin or spend two nights in St. Petersburg, mid-cruise. Seven-day cruises start at $2,885 if booked by Feb. 28. 888-799-4625, www.crystalcruises.com

STAY CONNECTED ON AMERICAN AIRLINES

The new American Airlines Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 planes will offer satellite and air-to-ground Wi-Fi service starting this year. Gogo, which provides in-flight wireless technology on many US airlines, will install both Ku-band satellite service and its new ATG-4 air-to-ground technology on the American planes. That means if you’re traveling from Boston to Mexico City, for instance, you will have no problem getting online during your domestic and international legs. This service is already available on American’s existing MD-80 and Boeing 737, 757, and 767 domestic planes. You will also find Gogo’s in-flight technology on all AirTran, Virgin America, Alaska, and Delta domestic flights, and select Frontier, United, and US Airways flights. www.gogoair.com

NEW YORK TOUR BLENDS HISTORY AND THE MACABRE

Sites of Memory, an unusual new smartphone tour, guides you to locations that played a part in notable disasters, mysteries, and dark events in the history of New York. Visit the site on Manhattan’s Upper West Side where the first recorded motor vehicle fatality in the Western Hemisphere occurred in 1899; see where the 1904 General Slocum steamship disaster happened; or follow in the final footsteps of Mary Rogers, known as the Beautiful Cigar Girl, whose disappearance inspired the first-ever mystery story, Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Roget.” Authors Kurt Andersen, Lewis H. Lapham, Angela Riechers, and Luc Sante narrate the free tour, accessible from a computer or from a smartphone as part of an audio-guided walking tour. Works on Apple and Android devices. www.sitesofmemory.com

A POWERFUL TABLET FOR CHILDREN

You may need to use ice cream and jelly bean bribes to get Ematic’s FunTab Pro out of your child’s hands. This 7-inch Android 4.0 child’s tablet has enough power to load programs before little minds wander (thanks to the 1 GHz processor), two cameras for taking photos or capturing videos that can be securely shared with grandparents and other designated folks, and hundreds of fun and educational apps and programs, from catchy “Sesame Street” music videos to painting programs. The best feature: Create a video recording of yourself reading a children’s book, like “Three Little Pigs,” so you can “read” a nighttime story to your munchkin even when you’re on the road. The FunTab Pro has an ergonomic grip for little hands, and comes with a selection of blue, pink, and red faceplates. $149.99 at Walmart or JR.com. 888-968-1985, www.ematic.us

COMPACT PORTABLE POWER STRIP FOR THE ROAD

Airports, hotels, and cruise ship cabins never seem to have enough power outlets. The compact FlipIt! Portable Power Strip has three surge-protected three-prong outlets — one on the front and one on each side — that provide 612 joules of surge protection, plus two USB charging ports, letting you plug in up to five devices at once. The three-prong plug of this compact power source also folds up, making it easier to pack; the only catch is you need a three-prong wall outlet. The manufacturer’s warranty covers connected devices for up to $30,000 in damages. $19.99 at ThinkGeek.com. 888-433-5788, www.thinkgeek.com